New research reveals how an injectable hydrogel boosted stem cell transplantation, partially restoring vision in blind mice and repairing brain injury after stroke.
Category: HEALTHCARE/MEDICAL
The Myths of Indoor Tanning
With May being Skin Cancer Awareness Month and in tandem with our event next week co-hosted with the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, The Hazards and Allure of Indoor Tanning Beds on College Campuses we are running a series on skin cancer. Be sure to check back daily for posts on skin cancer including how you prevent and detect it. Enjoy! A healthy glow. A base tan. Safer than the sun. I’ve heard these myths from indoor tanning proponents for years. The reality is there is not a single ounce of scientific merit to validate these fallacies. This Skin Cancer Awareness month, let’s put an end to the myths and get the facts straight. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World
Safety switch preserves beneficial effects of cell therapy
Researchers in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist and Texas Children’s Hospital have found that a single dose of an otherwise harmless drug can…
Researchers closer to finding new type 2 diabetes treatment after finding genetic link in mice
Australian researchers are closer to finding a new treatment for type 2 diabetes after discovering a link between protein intake and improved control of blood glucose in mice.
Fertility doctors warn women not to leave it too late to freeze eggs for IVF
Fertility doctors are warning women not to leave it too late to freeze eggs for future IVF procedures, even though the science is increasing the odds of conception.
A Cerberus exit strategy for Carney Hospital: The SEIU
Jessica Bartlett at the Boston Business Journal reports that Steward Healthcare System, owned by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, has named Walter Ramos, CEO of DotHouse Health, a health center in Dorchester, to be the new CEO of Carney Hospital. By all accounts, Mr. Ramos is an excellent choice, with a good administrative background and understanding of the needs of the neighborhood.No, what’s more interesting about Jessica’s story is her placement of two sets of assertions. Here’s one from Steward’s president:“Carney Hospital is in the midst of an exciting resurgence. In recent years, Carney has consistently earned national awards for quality patient care, grown the number of primary care and specialist physicians, and significantly expanded available services and improved the facilities. We believe Walter
Surgery still trumps “antibiotics first” approach to appendicitis
When appendicitis strikes, an operation to remove the appendix has long been the route to recovery. But a new strategy called “antibiotics first” could help some people avoid surgery for appendicitis. In a clinical practice article in today’s New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. David Flum, a surgeon at the University of Washington in Seattle, explores the history of antibiotics first for appendicitis, how it is currently being used, who might benefit from this no-surgery approach, and its drawbacks. Appendicitis 101 The appendix is a small, finger-like tube that hangs from the lower right side of the large intestine. Exactly what it does is something of a medical mystery. In about 300,000 Americans a year, the appendix becomes inflamed, usually because of an infection or
Nurse Executives & Nail Salons
I’ve been eyeing my colleagues’ manicures lately – a wardrobe staple, now that I work in nursing administration. The higher the title, the fancier the nails, it seems. Gone are the days where my closely trimmed, bare nails matched my simple scrubs. Dry cleaned suits and pumps are job requirements, and tasteful manicures seem highly recommended. Recently, I’ve considered picking up the practice, keeping my hands in my lap with rookie shame. I learned early on in my nursing career that the intensive care unit was no place for manicured fingernails, but administration is a different story. The on-and-off of latex gloves, constant washing, and ever-present hand sanitizer that nixed my polish in a single shift aren’t as present as I walk the halls
Are Insurers Prevailing Over Drug Makers?
Less than a year ago, it looked like health insurers were sending up trial balloons to see if they could get the federal government to regulate the research-based pharmaceutical industry as a utility. This was a reaction to high prices for new drugs like Sovaldi®. Today, the issue is being dialed back: Express Scripts, the largest pharmacy benefits manager in the U.S. initially refused to put Sovaldi® on its formulary. Now, it looks like both sides might have come to a businesslike accommodation: That taught Amgen and other drugmakers a lesson. Avoiding hostility with insurers and PBMs is now a paramount industry goal. “Every company is saying, ‘We don’t want to replicate what happened with Sovaldi. So let’s sit down and talk,’ ” says
Molecular switch that promotes heart cell maturation discovered
Discovery may help advance the development of stem cell treatments for heart diseaseA molecular switch that seems to be essential for embryonic heart cells to grow into more mature, adult-like…